All summer long...

I'm back from Grants Pass,
and at Identity Tattoo this week.
(and next week, too!)
Pretty much there every week till late August.
If you're looking to get tattooed,
let me know.
Especially chest pieces, please.
I have some serious hankerings to work on some big ole chest pieces.

It officially became summer while I was gone,
and I came home to find some awesome little signs of it.
The mulberry tree is full of ripe berries,
the weeds are looking crazy,
and this guy and his friends are growing in my front yard:


















Carl came in for a consult,
and he was nice enough to get his leg shaved and photographed.
Originally we just did the tree tattoo,
but then he came in to add everything else.
I have 5 different angles of the tattoo,
but the photoshopped combination photo i was making looked terrible,
so here's just two shots of it.
Click it for a bigger version.


















And I did this tattoo yesterday,
just a fun little piece on Amanda.


















Fourth of July weekend coming up,
and you know where the fireworks will be?
My front yard.
Powderhorn Park shoots them off from the lake,
so if you're around, let me know.
We'll be there.

Happy summer kids.

Off for a bit.

This week has been crazy,

trying to fit in a bit too much before and after work each day.

First, here's something I did while at work.

Ryan and I met up one morning to do some wildlife photography.

Here's some of the finished alligoose photos in it's natural habitat.

Now not only is it my weekend now,

but it's also the start of some serious time off.

We head east this Tuesday for a little while.

We'll be hitting baltimore, new jersey, queens,

connecticut, northampton, and new hampshire.

Handsome Adam will be the temporary innkeeper at Louderhorn,

and since he's also full time at Identity Tattoo these days,

he's the one to talk to if you want to book an appointment for when I return.

Stop by the shop to see him,

he'll take care of you.

black and grey and red all over.

I tattooed poor Spencer for 7 hours yesterday.

He only has one other tattoo,

and that one took less than 2 hours,

so this was a whole new kind of fun.

A creepy skull tree sitting on a ravine tattoo.

(con mushrooms)

Immediately following his tattoo,

tornado sirens started going off,

and the sky was so apocalyptic looking.

I didn't get a good photo of the weird greenish clouds happening

since I was trying to avoid hail stone marks on my camera (and face),

but by the time I got to MCBA,

things were looking pretty different.

I then helped Meryl finish up our latest mail art,

which you'll either receive in your mailbox,

or be able to check out here in a week or so.

This is also the very last photo ever taken of Meryl in her 20's.

She's officially 30 years old today!

Headed West

I did this black and grey tree tattoo in December,
right before I headed out to my East Coast trip
(and Off the Map Tattoo guest spot).
And then we added to it yesterday,
right before I head to my Gogue Art guest spot.
We didn't finish, but I was happy with the progress,
and wanted to post.
And it's a good way to show
what a black and grey tattoo looks like healed vs fresh.






















In this abandoned shed addition,
you can see the little bit of tree in the bottom right.
We have a bunch more to do,
especially with all of the sky, horizon, clouds,
and we'll likely finish it off in March.






















Right now I'm headed off to the airport.
Next stop, Portlandia.

The gift that makes the other gift stop giving.

Justin's birthday is October 31rst,
which is pretty awesome.
A little less awesome, however,
is the pumpkin tattoo he got on his birthday a few years back.
Ouch.
Justin's mom wanted to help make the pumpkin go away,
so this year for his birthday,
she bought him a big cover up tattoo.
(what? i know! such a nice mom)

You'll have to click on the photo to see it in a not itty-bitty size.
It's the 3 stages of making a pumpkin disappear.
Stencil/maker stage, then session one, then second/final sit.
I believe it was about 6 hours total.

Beacon of Absurdity

Not Casual Friday.
Another Friday, another tie.
Even our mailman participates.
Under his multiple layers, that is-
it's f*n cold outside this week.
15º, and snowing.



Chef Jeff finally came in to Identity Tattoo today
and got his lighthouse tree finished.
A little blending, a little more clouds,
a little ground, and we were done.
I'm pleased with the end poduct,
even if it isn't a fat animal in earthtones.

(and for all those out there cheering me on,
it's been three full weeks without a sip of Dr Pepper)

Thanksgiving Eve

Among other things,
I'm super thankful that I didn't get punched in the face today.

Hannah got her first ever tattoo,
and it took 5 f'n hours.
Around hour 4, I sensed that I might be in danger.

Luckily,
we made it to the finish line with only one of us bleeding.
She has big plans for it to continue some day, with background,
and wrapping around the arm, etc.
But for now, that's a serious first tattoo.

(the picture doesn't really show how high up it goes)




Who's ready for Thanksgiving tomorrow?
Not me.
I'll take the day off, you don't need to ask me twice.
And Meryl and I will certainly take first and second place (respectively, even)
in Total Food Intake,
whether or not anyone else is keeping score.

Speaking of food,
Megan and Joan weren't kidding when they said they'd
overnight us some Brooklyn bagels once they got back.
There was a big box on the porch this morning,
with a dozen doughy delights inside.
I ate up a marbled one immediately,
and we're bringing the rest to dinner tomorrow.
Those two are awesome.